With only two and a half years until the next General Election, Palusalue Fa'apo II believes he can lead his party to victory from their new Tautua headquarters.

Things are looking up for the Party which had almost no presence at the 2010 election, losing six potential candidates to the Human Rights Protection Party.

“It is going to be hard, it’s going to be very hard,” he says of the task ahead.

“(But) we are very fortunate now that we are established. Before we did not have any chance – I believe we have achieved so much in these two and a half years.

“We will be able to prove to the country what we stand for and also our role as the opposition to ensure that we are recognised as the alternative government.”

The first step towards this recognition – a brand new block of land provided by the Government in Vaitele for the Party headquarters.

Palusalue said the request was put in for the land at the start of the last term of Parliament.

“They came through with an ideal piece of land for our head office and the centre for the Tautua,” he said. “We are just finalising the lease now and we are very happy with that.

“I believe we will be able to have an office up and running by the end of this year.

“I want to express my appreciation to the Samoan government and to the Prime Minister for leasing us this land for our head office.”

He says they will use their new headquarters as a campaign centre for the upcoming election.

“We should be able to work from there,” says Palusalue.

Now fielding 12 members the Party is gathering strength.

“(We are now) made up of very professional people,” he said.

“They have their own principles to protect and I believe that we will build on this foundation and we will be able to get more candidates for the next general election.”

Palusalue touched on the lead up to the last election saying there were six or seven candidates that are now within the HRPP that were supposed to be with the Tautua.

“But the government has the power to offer them incentives – a new car, an associate minister position, telephone, travel and all this and they ended up switching to government before the election,” he said.

“So we believe we must work on that to ensure we have candidates available for us.

“In terms of their principles and whatever they think contribute for the benefit of this country, not to come here and get the new car and pay rise and all these incentives.

“But we want is what we’ve got now (speaking about the current members) - we want these people to come here with their principles intact.”

Palusalue said for now the Party will focus on moving forward, working on the foundation they have built.

“In our role as the opposition trying to raise these issues with the government,” he said.

“To promote ourselves, also work on our manifesto try and to win then next election.

“(It’s) important because now the people are listening.

“Even though it’s very hard for us because the government has employed a lot of top chiefs from every village in terms of their advisory roles, however, we can see the cracks within the government now within the HRPP party so we take full advantage of that.

“We will win the next election. That is why it is very important for us to perform and to ensure that our role is recognised by the people.

“But I believe God will appoint whoever will be the next government, if it is not us then maybe it is not God’s will [for us to govern].”

Comments

Any new govt is better than the govt we have today. I believe this current govt has created more problems than what it can solve for its people. There are 18+ corrupt allegations against the Finance Minister and yet nothing was done about it. Then there's the allegations against the police & prison, Customs, SLC, STA, EPC, Health Dept, the increase in unemployment & crime rates, changing the constitution without referendums, policies that benefit HRPP but not the people, media suppression, Satapuala & Maagiagi incidents that could've been handled fairly & better, Fugalei market that's yet to be built, failed projects eg Vaitele market etc, excessive debt & loans, crooked foreign investors, allegations from foreign countries that Samoa is a tax haven for investors avoiding to pay taxes and possible money laundering, conflicts of interests, abuse of vehicles, public funds & resources, govt policy that a minister is to have 1 vehicle yet there are those with more than 1, the PM & govt degrading the people by calling them names, etc. These are just some of the things we know of, but what about those that we don't know of yet? These are the signs given to the people that we are due for a new govt. So when do we as the people decide that 'enough is enough?' I say now is that time. I hope some the good HRPP members will roll over or form a new party to lead Samoa into Canaan & turn it into the land of milk & honey. It's time for change! Out with the old and in with the new!

“So we believe we must work on that to ensure we have candidates available for us.“In terms of their principles and whatever they think contribute for the benefit of this country, not to come here and get the new car and pay rise and all these incentives."

“But we want is what we’ve got now (speaking about the current members) - we want these people to come here with their principles intact.”

“But the government has the power to offer them incentives – a new car, an associate minister position, telephone, travel and all this and they ended up switching to government before the election,” he said.

Um, Palu, you too can offer them the same things if you become the government. Associate Minister positions are available to whichever party becomes the government.

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